Lighting fixture

ABSTRACT

A fighting fixture disclosed is designed for installation in a cove of a public transit vehicle providing ready access to a space behind it, without requiring a variety of specially designed fixtures for special access requirements. The fixture comprises a pair of battens extending generally vertically to support the fixture, a longitudinally extending card panel supported in movable relationship by the battens and having a groove adapted to mount an advertisement card, a socket connected to each of the battens cooperating to mount a fluorescent lamp, and a bezel supported by the battens and supporting a lens covering the mounted lamp. Access to the space is obtained by releasing a lower edge of the card panel and rotating it about pivot pins to an open position. Similarly, the bezel is pivoted to provide access to the mounted lamp. An advertisement car card placed on the card panel is retained at a lower edge by the card panel throughout the pivotal displacement of the panel. An elongated lighting fixture may be formed by supporting additional panels by the battens in movable relationship thereto.

This is a continuation of allowed application Ser. No. 988,251, filedDec. 10, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,763, which is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 961,777, filed Oct. 15,1992, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to cornice lighting fixturesfor use in public transit vehicles, and more particularly, to animproved lighting fixture for installation in a cove or cornice of avehicle and which provides access to the air duct region between thefixture and vehicle body, while illuminating and retaining anadvertising car card in place.

Several card-carrying cornice lighting fixtures are known in the art.One type of cornice lighting fixture for public transit vehicles isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,415. This fixture is of unitarypultrusion construction and includes a trim panel for holding a carcard, integral with a light housing. While this construction is said tosatisfy a need for economy of manufacture, this fixture must, however,be custom cut to provide necessary apertures or removed entirely fromthe vehicle to provide access to an air duct behind the fixture, andsuch access is generally only available after removing the advertisingcard.

Another vehicle lighting fixture designed for use in public transitvehicles such as railway cars is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,035,161.This type includes through-running beams, one on each side of thevehicle, upon which advertising card receptacles are anchored. A cardbacking plate of this type of fixture is secured by screws at one edgeand by a flange at an opposite edge. Access to an enclosed duct behindthe card backing plate is provided by removing an advertising cardsupported on the card backing plate and unfastening the plate.

Yet another vehicle lighting system for illuminating an advertising cardas well as for general vehicle illumination is disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 2,587,807 which is adapted to be installed in the vehicle cornice.The fixture is mounted to a vehicle ceiling surface and to a deckmember. The deck member and ceiling define a duct for cables orventilation.

These references recognize the need to access the fluorescent lamps ofthe fixtures for replacement purposes and the like, by providingremovable lenses or bezels, but they generally do not provide readyaccess to an enclosed air plenum above the fixture.

Today's public transit vehicles are equipped with sophisticatedelectrical apparatus to operate lights, bells, buzzers, air conditionersand other complex equipment, all of which must be placed in spaces whichdo not interfere with the passengers' safety and comfort. The coveformed by the adjacent sidewall and ceiling of such vehicles is uniquelysuited to house air ducts, cables, and electrical and mechanicaldevices. There exists a need to provide ready access to these spaceswith minimal delay.

Furthermore, it is desirable to provide such access without resorting tocustomizing panels with access doors and the like. Additionally, it isdesirable to provide such access without disturbing an advertisementcard held in the fixture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved lightingfixture, especially designed for installation in a cove formed by theceiling and sidewall of a passenger vehicle interior.

Another object is to eliminate the need to customize particular lightingfixture units to provide access to a duct or plenum defined by acombination of the installed lighting fixture and the cove.

Yet another object is to provide a lighting fixture which is pre-wiredand shipped as a complete modular unit ready for installation into abus.

Still another object is to provide a lighting fixture with the foregoingadvantages with minimal cost and complexity.

A further object is to provide a lighting fixture with a means forretaining an electrical connector which advantageously permitsmaintenance and replacement of a plug-in ballast adapted to mate withthe connector.

The present invention provides a lighting fixture for passenger vehiclesproviding ready access to a space behind it, without requiring a varietyof specially designed fixtures for special access requirements. Instead,the fixtures of the present invention may be made uniformly forinstallation and electrical connection throughout the vehicle,permitting access to the air plenum everywhere in the vehicle. Thus,only a single design need be produced instead of a variety of specialdesigns, contributing to lower costs of production.

These and other objects are achieved according to the present inventionby providing a lighting fixture of the type designed to support anadvertisement card, for use with a fluorescent lamp, which comprises: apair of battens or supporting struts extending generally vertically tosupport the fixture; a longitudinally extending card-holder panelsupported at each end by the battens in a movable relationship to thebattens, the panel having a groove adapted to mount an advertisementcard; a socket connected to each of the battens cooperating to mount afluorescent lamp; and a bezel supported by the battens and supporting alens or other light distributor covering the mounted lamp. In accordancewith an aspect of the present invention, the card panel is pivotallymounted on the battens. As a further feature of the present invention,the bezel is also pivotally mounted on the battens and may assist inretaining the advertisement card. As an additional feature of thepresent invention, the battens may include a mounting for an electricalconnector for engaging a ballast and means for retaining the ballast. Asingle ballast may be used for two adjoining fixtures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a lighting fixtureaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a lighting fixtureconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of a lighting fixtureconstructed in accordance with the present invention showing a cardpanel in a closed position or operating state;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the device of FIG. 4 showing the cardpanel in an open position.

FIG. 6 is a lateral view of a batten constructed in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of one end of a pair of battens of twoadjoining lighting fixtures constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to an improved lighting fixture,especially designed for installation in a cove formed by a ceiling andsidewall of a passenger vehicle interior. The present vehicle lightingsystem is formed by of a plurality of individual elongated lightingfixtures, each fixture being pre-wired and shipped as a complete modularunit ready for installation, which may be installed in a continuousend-to-end or longitudinally spaced manner along opposed sides of acentral passenger aisle of a vehicle compartment. An air plenum or airduct is often defined between the lighting fixture and the vehicle wall.This space may be employed to house electrical cables or as a duct todistribute heated or cooled air, or to house mechanisms such as doorclosures.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lighting fixture 10 of the presentinvention comprises a pair of left and right hand battens 20a, 20b,respectively, for pivotally mounting both a card panel 60, whichselectively covers or provides access to the air plenum or cove 118formed by vehicle ceiling 110 and sidewall 112, and a bezel 84 disposedabove the card panel 60, which selectively covers or provides access toa light socket and lamp assembly 12,14. Bezel 84 is formed to hold alens or diffuser 52 which diffuses or directs light from the light tubeinto the vehicle passenger compartment and onto the card carded by thecard panel 60. The light fixture is formed by a unitary assembly of aleft hand batten 20a and a fight hand batten 20b, each carrying a lightsocket 12, and a pivotally secured card panel 60 and bezel 84. Areflector 106 may also be part of the assembly. This assembly may thenbe secured to the vehicle merely by affixing the battens to the vehicleceiling and side wall, with an air plenum 118 formed by the spacebetween the vehicle and fixture. The right hand batten of one fixtureand the left hand batten of another fixture may be installed in thevehicle adjacent to each other to provide a longitudinally continuouscornice lighting fixture structure along the length of the vehicle.

Left hand batten 20a may be formed with an extension 21 having amounting for an electrical connector 17b which is wired to the lightsocket and lamp assembly 12, 14, as shown in FIG. 7. Where two fixturesare juxtaposed end to end, a dual lamp ballast 16 having a matingconnector 17a may engage connector 17b to serve both adjoining fixtures.Such an arrangement offers the advantages of fewer ballasts per vehicleresulting in decreased weight and fewer electrical interconnections,resulting in increased electrical reliability. Battens 20a and 20b areotherwise symmetrical and are referred to hereinafter more generally asbatten 20.

In a first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, access to air plenum 118is provided by pivoting the card panel 60 outward from the cove formedby the ceiling 110 and the sidewall 112. Card panel 60 has a concavefront surface 60a for receiving a car card 56 and a convex rear surface60b which faces the cove. At each end of card panel 60 is a boss orprojection 71 extending rearward from a rib or flange 61 on rear surface60b and having a pivot hole 72, near its upper edge, adapted to receivea pivot pin or trunnion 36 formed on batten 20.

Card panel 60 is further formed with a resiliently flexible extensionflap 74 which is generally planar with front surface 60a and extendsbeyond boss 71. This extension 74 has a slightly enlarged rounded orbulbous edge 76 adapted, in a manner described below, to support thecard panel 60 in an open position to provide access to the air plenum118.

Panel 60 is supported from each batten 20 by the batten pivot pin 36which engages the panel boss 71 of an upper edge of the panel 60 and bya screw 66 or other removable securing means passing through a hole in alower edge of the panel 60 to engage the batten 20 at 44.

In accordance with the invention, access to air plenum 118 is obtainedby releasing the lower edge of card panel 60 from the batten 20 androtating it about pivot pins 36 to an open position shown in phantomlines in FIG. 2. As card panel 60 is pivoted, the bulbous edge 76 ofextension flap 74 travels freely through an arc generally defined by thelength of flap 74 and pivot pin 36, along an arched surface 32 of batten20 as shown by arrow A in FIG. 2. Arched surface 32 is formed generallycoaxial with pivot pin 36 and has a protuberance 34 formed thereon. Ascard panel 60 is pivoted to near its fully open position, extension 74flexes slightly and may be manually urged past one side of protuberance34 toward an adjacent vertical wall 38 of batten 20, permittingextension 74 to return to its natural unflexed shape. Once extension 74has passed protuberance 34, bulbous edge 76 is held between projection34 and wall 38 to support card panel 60 in an open position. Panel 60may be closed by reversing this operation, allowing extension 74 to flexas it passes over protuberance 34 to return to an unflexed state as thepanel 60 is secured at its lower edge to the batten 20.

A car card 56 inserted in card panel 60 is retained by the card panel 60throughout the panel's pivotal displacement. At an edge of card panel 60opposite the flexible extension 74, card panel 60 is formed with aconnection portion 62 for securing the panel 60 to a batten 20 at eachpanel end. The panel is formed with a card holder tab or lip 68 forminga groove to hold one edge of the card 56. Thus, as card panel 60 ispivoted about pivot pin 36, a car card 56 placed in the groove 68 isretained on front surface 60a of panel 60 at its bottom edge.

Bezel 84 supports the car card 56 at its top edge. Bezel 84 is formedwith a flat edge 98 which overlaps extension 74 of card panel 60,leaving a gap between panel 60 and bezel edge 98 to retain the upperedge of the card 56. When both the card panel 60 and bezel 84 areclosed, a car card 56 may be placed in groove 68 at a bottom edge ofcard 56 and in the cavity formed between panel extension 74 and bezeledge 98 at a top edge of card 56.

Bezel 84 has a boss with a pivot hole 90 formed in each end of its edgeopposite the flat edge 98. The pivot hole 90 is arranged to receive apivot pin or trunnion 22 formed on batten 20. Thus, when bezel 84 ispivoted to an open position, edge 98 separates from card panel 60 andprovides access to a lamp 14 and to the top edge of car card 56. Whenbezel 84 is in a closed position, it can be secured in place by screws92 inserted into screw holes formed in edge 98 which are arranged toalign with and engage threads 50 formed on batten 20.

The lighting fixture of the present invention is further provided with apair of light sockets 12, preferably of the type described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,261,831, issued Nov. 16, 1993, in the names of M. J. Vendal and L.B. Ruth and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, whichcooperate to mount a fluorescent light tube 14. Each batten 20 is formedwith a flange 26 having threaded projections or holes 28 for mountingsocket 12 to flange 26. A reflector 106 is disposed behind the lighttube 14 at a section 30 of batten 20 to direct light from the light tubethrough the bezel. Reflector 106 may be formed in a concave or doubleconcave shape, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Preferably, reflector 106 isformed with a double generally ellipsoidal trough so that light fromlight tube 14 focuses onto the car card 56, and also onto the passengerreading plane and floor aisle of the vehicle. Reflector 106 is supportedat each end by batten 20. The reflector and the bezel prevent lightemanating from the light fixture 10 through apertures 86 from travellingdirectly onto the vehicle ceiling 110. This reduces one source of driverglare.

The concave inner surface 96 of bezel 84 is formed with longitudinallyextending walls 88 projecting inwardly from the inner surface 96. A pairof gasket strips 108 are disposed, respectively, upon eachlongitudinally extending edge of reflector 106. The outer edges of walls88 engage gasket strips 108 in the closed position of the bezel to forma seal against dust. Bezel 84 also has a plurality of lens openings orapertures 86 fitted with a transparent or translucent lens or diffuser52 for appropriately distributing light onto the car card 56 below lighttube 14 and generally throughout the passenger vehicle. The bezel may beprovided with a single opening extending nearly its full length or witha number of such openings along its length, separated by strips 87extending between the upper and lower portions of the bezel opening. Aseparate lens may be associated with each opening, or alternatively, asingle lens may overlie the entire sequence of openings. The lenses arepreferably extruded of transparent or translucent material with across-sectional configuration adopted to distribute light as may bedesired over the vehicle passenger compartment and advertising card. Thestrips or webs 87 between the apertures 86 also function like a louverto baffle linear glare, another source of driver glare, which mayotherwise be obtrusive to driver visibility.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, batten 20 is formed with a rectangular sleeve24a defined by sleeve walls 24 adjacent batten section 30 and is adaptedto hold a lamp ballast 16. Where two fixtures are juxtaposed end-to-end,the sleeves 24a of their battens are in register (i.e. in alignment) andmay hold a dual-lamp ballast to serve both adjoining fixtures. Theballast may be retained in the sleeve 24a in any suitable manner, suchas one or more set screws, or as described more fully in connection withFIG. 7. A longitudinal lip or flange 58 is formed on batten 20 extendingbeyond sleeve 24a for mounting batten 20 to a bracket or frame member114 of the vehicle ceiling 110.

As seen in FIG. 1, the lower connection portion 62 of card panel 60 isfurther formed with a hole for a screw 66 and a slot 64 at each endoverlying batten 20. Screws 66 are arranged so that when card panel 60is in its closed position, each screw 66 is aligned with an opening 44formed on one end of batten 20. Card panel 60 may thereby be secured tobatten 20 by suitable securing means, to form a single unit with thebezel and reflector for shipping or installation purposes. Slots 64 areprovided to expose screws 48 in batten 20 to permit securing the battento the vehicle structure, for installing a lighting fixture 10 or anadjoining pair of fixtures as a single unit. Batten 20 is provided withscrews 46,48 at upper flange 58 and lower horizontal portion 42,respectively, for attaching the lighting fixture 10 to a pair of framemembers or brackets 114,116 mounted to the vehicle ceiling andsidewalls, respectively. Additionally, batten 20 may be formed with agroove 41 at its lower horizontal portion 42 adapted to seat the battenupon bracket 116, as shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in whichfeatures common to the first embodiment are given correspondingreference numerals. Otherwise than as specifically described below, thefixture of FIG. 3 is essentially the same as in FIGS. 1-2.

As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, access to air plenum 118 isobtained by pivoting card panel 60 about pivot pin 36 to an openposition. Card panel 60 is formed at its upper edge with a loop 80engaging pivot pin 36 and having a projection 82 extending outwardlyfrom it. As card panel 60 is pivoted, projection 82 rotates about pin 36toward a generally vertical wall portion 38 of batten 20. Wall 38 isgenerally perpendicular to card panel 60. Card panel 60 may be pivotallyrotated as shown by arrow B until projection 82 bears against wall 38 toprovide a stop for panel 60.

As before, a car card 56 inserted in card panel 60 may be retainedthroughout the pivotal displacement of the panel. A card-holding tab 68is provided to retain the car card 56 on a bottom edge of the frontsurface 60a of the card panel 60. The card panel 60 is further providedwith an upper card holding tab forming a groove 78 to hold an upper edgeof a car card 56.

As shown by arrow C in FIG. 3, bezel 84 is pivotally supported by apivot pin 22a formed on batten 20 permitting downward swinging of thebezel toward the card panel 60 about the lower edge of the bezel. Bezel84 is formed with a boss on each end having a pivot hole 90a disposed ona rear surface 96 between lens openings 86 and the bezel left edge asseen in the drawing. A projection 104 extends beyond pivot hole 90 toprovide a close fit, when closed, between the card panel 60 and thebezel 84, and also to engage the batten wall in the open bezel positionto provide a stop for the pivoting of the bezel. The bezel flange 102overlaps a flange 58 of batten 20 when the bezel 84 is in a closedposition. These flanges are removably secured together, as by screws, toretain the bezel closed.

As before, a reflector 106 is supported at each end by batten 20 and isdisposed behind the light tube 14 at a section 30 of batten 20 to directlight from the light tube 14 through the bezel. Reflector 106 ispreferably formed with a pair of generally ellipsoidal troughs to directlight and reduce driver glare, as discussed in connection with theprevious embodiment.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a third embodiment of the present invention, in whichfeatures common to both the first and second embodiments are denotedwith corresponding reference numerals. Otherwise than as specificallydescribed below, the fixture of FIGS. 4 and 5 is essentially the same asin FIGS. 1-3.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, card panel 60 is formed with a boss orprojection 171 adjacent each end. Boss 171 has a bore or hole 172 ofgenerally oval cross-section extending generally parallel to the cardpanel 60 and adapted to receive a pivot pin or trunnion 36 formed onbatten 20. The pivot pin 36 may slide in the groove 172 between one edge172a of the groove 172 and another edge 172b while still permittingpanel 60 to pivot.

Card panel 60 is further formed with an extension 174 which is generallyco-planar with the front surface 60a of card panel 60 and extends beyondboss 171. This extension 174 has a shoulder portion 175 as well as aflange 176 at its distal end adapted, in a manner described below, tosupport the card panel 60 in both an open and a closed position.

A concave bezel 84 is formed at each end and adjacent its lower edgewith an extension 90a having a bore or groove adapted to receive a pivotpin 20a of a batten 20. Bezel 84 at its opposite edge is (in its closedposition) secured to an end of batten 20 by a screw 83 or other suitableremovable securing means. Bezel 84 is formed with an inwardly extendingwall 88a terminating in a flange 181 forming a seat in the edge of wall88a which receives one edge of a reflector 106a.

The reflector 106a is formed with a double concave surface 180preferably in the shape of a double generally ellipsoidal trough havinga small extension flange 182 at one edge. Flange 182 is adapted toengage the terminal edge of wall 88a of bezel 84 when the bezel 84 is ina closed position as seen in FIG. 4. Reflector 106a is further formed atits other edge with a T-shaped termination 184. One leg of the T-shapedtermination 184 forms a ledge 186 which engages a flange 105 of bezel84, disposed on the distal edge of a continuation 104a of the bezel 84.The reflector termination 184 also has a second leg 188 spaced from theupper edge of panel 60 (when in the closed position) which forms agroove 187 adapted to hold a top edge of a car card 56 as shown in FIG.4. Leg 188 of reflector termination 184 has a ridge or rib 190 extendingupwardly which, as described below, engages the upper edge of the cardpanel 60 in combination with a bump or rounded ridge 192 extending alongreflector 106a.

In use, by removing screw 83, bezel 84 is permitted to swing about pivot22a to the open position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4. It will bemaintained in that position by its weight hanging from the pivot pins.In this way, ready access is given to the fluorescent tube and sockets,for maintenance when needed.

The bezel 84 is formed also with longitudinal grooves 193 into which maybe slid the edges of a diffuser or lens 195, which is retained in thebezel 84, both in its open and closed positions.

As seen in FIG. 4, when the lower edge of card panel 60 is engaged by ascrew or other removable securing means, pivot pin 36 is adjacent edge172a of pivot bore 172. At the same time, the flange 176 of card panel60 supports an upper edge of card panel 60 on rib 190 formed inreflector 106a.

In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, access to an airplenum 118 above card panel 60 is obtained by releasing the lower edgeof card panel 60 from the batten 20, as in the previous embodiments.Then, by sliding the panel leftward so that pivot pin 36 engages edge172b of bore 172, the flange 176 is withdrawn from between rib 190 androunded ridge 192 permitting rotation of the card panel 60 about pivotpin 36 to an open position as shown in FIG. 5.

As card panel 60 is pivoted, the flange 176 of extension 174 travelsthrough an arc, along an arched surface 32 of batten 20 toward a groove34a. As card panel 60 is pivoted near its fully open position, flange176 flexes slightly in arched surface 32 and snaps into groove 34a,permitting flange 176 to return to its natural unflexed shape. Onceflange 176 has entered groove 34a, flange 176 will support card panel 60in an open position, with pivot pin 36 bearing against edge 172b ofgroove 172. Panel 60 may be closed by reversing this operation, bycausing flange 176 to flex as it exits groove 34a and return to anunflexed state within arched surface 32. By pivoting the panel 60, itsflange will engage rib 190. Then by sliding the panel over pivot pin 36,it is engaged between rib 190 and rounded ridge 192. By securing thelower edge of panel 60 to batten 20 (not shown in this figure), thepanel 60 is secured in this position.

The reflector 106a is secured at each end to a respective batten 20 andextends longitudinally between the two battens, generally coextensivewith the card panel 60 and bezel 84. Batten 20 may be further formedwith a lip 200 to hingeably secure one margin of each end of reflector106a. An opposite margin of reflector 106a may have a stub 206 securedin a groove formed by a lip or tab 204. As shown in FIG. 6, reflector106a may be adapted to hingeably mount on batten 20 and have its stub206 flexibly urged into a slot formed by tab 204 or may be positioned inslot 204 and around lip 200 upon assembly. Once inserted, stub 206serves to resist withdrawal of reflector 106a from the slot. Reflector106a may additionally be secured in any other suitable manner, such asby one or more screws.

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of a portion of two adjoining battens20a,20b of two adjoining fixtures. The left-hand batten 20a is formedwith an extension 21 having a mounting for an electrical connector 17bformed at the outer end of extension 21. The mounting is formed so thatconnector 17b having a groove 25 in its side may be securely retained onextension 21 by means of a pair of locking fingers (not shown) whichengage groove 25. The locking fingers are elastically flexible andarranged so that as connector 17b is inserted into the mounting, thefingers are urged apart until connector 17b is fully inserted at whichpoint the fingers engage groove 25 and thereby return to their unbiasedstate while retaining the connector. Connector 17b is arranged to matewith a connector 17a formed on one end of a ballast 16 when inserted inthe direction of arrow E in the batten sleeves 24a. One of the connector17a and connector 17b is a male-type connector while the other is afemale-type connector. This provides for ready connection, maintenanceand replacement of the ballast 16.

Extension 21 is formed with a length sufficient so that a single-lampballast with a connector 17a will have an opposite end substantiallycontained within sleeve 24a. This permits an end lighting fixture in anodd-numbered series of such fixtures to hold a ballast. Where a duallamp ballast is used to serve adjoining light fixtures 10, the ballastmay extend beyond sleeve 24a of one lighting fixture into a secondsleeve 24a of an adjoining lighting fixture. Although the dual lampballast may extend beyond one fixture into another, it would still becontained in an air plenum defined by the adjoining fixtures. Bothadjoining light fixtures may be electrically connected by wires 23 tothe dual lamp ballast.

The connector 17b is wired at certain terminal locations to select oneof two lamp output options provided by ballast 16. One output optionprovides full current to the lamps for maximum light intensity. A secondoutput option provides reduced current to the lamps to save power.

Sleeve 24a may be further formed with a locking finger 27 extending awayfrom one of its sleeve walls 24 adapted to lockably engage an end ofballast 16 opposite connector 17a when the ballast is inserted intosleeve 24a in the direction of arrow E. This would secure ballast 16 insleeve 24a. Alternatively, ballast 16 could be retained in sleeve 24a bylocking means associated with each of connectors 17a, 17b or could beretained in any other suitable manner, such as one or more set screws.

It will be readily appreciated that the pivot pins 36 and pivot holes72,80, and the pivot pins 36 and pivot holes 172, could readily beinterchanged, putting the hole in the batten and pin on the panel 60 orbezel. Other pivot arrangements may be used, such as a metal pinextending between a hole or recess in the batten and in the bezel orcard holder panel. Also, the boss on the panel containing the pivot hole(or pin) may extend from either the front or the rear surface of thepanel or bezel or be intermediate those surfaces. The boss may extendthe entire length of the panel. Similarly, the pivot boss on the bezelmay extend for its entire length.

Enhanced structural integrity may be achieved by including braces orwebs about the pivot holes or pins and on various flanges such as flange26 as shown in FIG. 6. The card panel 60 is provided with ribs orflanges 61 spaced along its length extending rearward from a rearsurface 60b to enhance the strength of the panel. A boss 71 is formed onribs 61 near an upper edge of card panel 60. At each end of card panel60, boss 71 is formed with a pivot hole 72 adapted to receive a pivotpin or trunnion 36 formed on batten 20.

Card panel 60 is of a length sufficient to accommodate standard lengthlight tubes 14 between the sockets mounted on the battens including, forexample, four foot tubes. Shorter length tubes can be accommodated by asecondary cut and punch operation where the panel is cut along theoutside margin of a rib 61 and a hole is punched in boss 71 forreceiving pivot pin 36. Ribs 61 are generally spaced one foot apart tofacilitate cutting panel 60 to house shorter length light tubes, such asa three foot tube.

While FIG. 1 shows three openings in the bezel, in any of the forms ofthe invention, the bezel may be formed either with a single opening orwith a plurality of openings along its length. The strips 87 joining theupper and lower edges of the bezel openings will serve to provideincreased strength and rigidity for the bezel and to baffle linearglare. The spacing between adjoining strips 87 is selected to give adesired glare reduction effect in the longitudinal direction. Thisspacing may, for example, be 4 to 8 inches. In any of the forms of theinvention, the lens may, for convenience, extend for substantially theentire length of the bezel, or alternatively, there may be a separatelens element for each bezel opening or group of openings.

The battens, panel, and bezel may be formed by compression or injectionmolding from plastic materials of suitable strength. Alternatively, thebezel and panel may be extruded or pultruded, in which case the pivothole bosses may extend the length of the bezel and panel, with pivotholes formed in their ends. The lens or bezel opening or openings may beformed thereafter.

From the foregoing description, it will be clear that the presentinvention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing fromthe spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosedembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims, and not limited to the foregoingdescription.

What is claimed as the invention is:
 1. A lighting arrangement for theinterior of a vehicle comprising:a first and a second adjacent lightingfixtures placed end-to-end, each fixture including a fluorescent lighttube said first fixture having a first rigid unitary mounting batten atits end adjacent said second fixture, said second fixture having asecond rigid unitary mounting batten at its end adjacent said firstfixture, each batten being adapted to be secured to the structure ofsaid vehicle in a generally vertical orientation for mounting saidfixtures to said vehicle structure, said first batten having a firstelectrical connector mounted thereon, said second batten having aballast mounted thereon, said ballast having a second electricalconnector mounted thereon and mating with said first electricalconnector, said ballast being connected to both of said light tubes forinitiating and maintaining light discharges therein.
 2. A lightingfixture as in claim 1, further including an electrical socket mounted oneach of said battens and a respective one of said fluorescent lighttubes engaging each of said sockets.
 3. A lighting fixture as in claim2, further including a reflector supported by said battens behind eachof said light tubes.